Improvement in animal-traps



JOHN COOMBE.

Improvement in Animal Traps. 10.123381. Patented Feb. 6,1872.

JOHN GOOMBE, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOItTO HIMSELF AND HENRYPHELPS, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN ANIMAL=TRAPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 123,381, dated February6, 1872.

SPECIFICATION. To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN Gooinnn, of San J os, county of Santa Clara,State of Oalifor nia, have invented an Improved Animal-Trap; and I dohereby declare the following description and accompanying drawing aresufficient to enable any person skilled in the art or science to whichit most nearly appertains to make and use my said invention withoutfurther invention or experiment.

My invention relates to that class of animal traps in which a wheel orshaft with radiating wings or platforms, which revolve inside of a. box,is used 5 and my improvements consist in so mounting the wheel or shaft,with its platforms, that it can be revolved by a spring when the animalto be trapped is small, or, by moving some of the parts so as to throwthem out of gear, leave the wheel to be revolved by the weight of theanimal. My invention also relates to some of the minor details of themachine.

In order to explain my invention so that others will understand itsconstruction and operation, reference is had to the accompanying drawingforming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a sideelevation, showing the small compartment in my trap. Fig. 2 is avertical section, showing the interior. Fig. 3 is aview of thespringphite.

A represents a box, having a narrow compartment, B, at one side. Theshaft 0 extends through the main compartment of the box, and carries theradiating wings or platforms 0. Along the outer edge of each of theplatforms O is an angular strip, (1, which serves for the purposehereinafter mentioned. The shaft 6 passes through the side of the maincompartment into the narrow side compartment B, where a circular plate,f, and pinion, g, are se cured to it. A frame consisting of two plates hh, which are united together ateach end, has its lower end secured by ascrew or bolt to the side of the compartment B. Between the plates h his a large toothed wheel, j, with a coiled spring, which can be wound upby a The upper end of the plate lb of small crank.

the frame has ahorizontal slot in it, and a setscrew, k, passes throughthe slot into the side of the compartment, by means of which the upperend is secured. By loosening the setscrew, the upper end of the framecan be moved back and forth, so as to throw the toothed wheel j in orout of gear with the pinion g, as desired. The circular plate f has asmany projections 43 as there are platforms on the wheel. A spring-plate,l, is secured to the side of the compartment near the bottom, andextends upward, curving outward as it rises. Opposite the center of thecircular plate f, a short rack-plate, m, is secured to the springbar I,so as to pass through the side of the compartment near enough to allowthe teeth t' to catch upon the projections upon the plate an. A veryslight movement of the spring-barl in either direction will free theteeth 0; so as to allow the pinion g, plate f, and shaft e'with itsplatforms, to make a quarter revolution, or until the next tooth istrikes the rack-plate m. The bait-hook 0 is secured to the upper end ofthe spring-bar l, and a hole, R, is cut through the side of thecompartment B opposite the horizontal platform, which forms the bottomof the mssage-way Q, so that the animal, when standing uponthe'platform, operates the device, which drops him into the box beneath.ln order to prevent the wheel from rebounding when the spring is notused, a

pawl, S, is suspended so as to be thrown out w by the teeth as theydescend, and lock them as soon as they strike the rack-bar.

The apron at the outer edge of the platforms prevents the animal fromfalling from the platform before it has descended far enough to re setthe trap.

By this means I provide a trap which can be used for large and smallanimals, and one which is easily regulated and kept in order.

llaviug thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. The wings or platforms 0, when provided with the angular strip orapron (I, substantially as and for the purpose above described.

2. The shaft 6, with its circular platef, having projections z" andpinion g, in combination with the spring-bar l, raelcplate m, and pawlIn Witness Wheieof I have hereunto set my S, substantially as and forthe purpose above hand and sea-1 this fourth day of Noven'lber,described.

one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one. 3. The frame, consisting ofthe plates h 72 JOHN OOOMBE. [L. s.] with the toothed wheel j, secured,as described, at its lower end, and made adjustable byineans Witnesses:of the slot Z and set-screw k, substantially as W. F. BINGHAM,

and for the purpose above described. J. L. BOONE.

